The Minister Dubravka Bošnjak with the leadership of Eurotransplant

Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dubravka Bošnjak met today with a delegation of Eurotransplant, which is paying a three-day official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The delegation is headed by the Chief Executive Officer of Eurotransplant, André Matera, and includes the Medical Director, Dr Erwin de Buijzer, and the Chair of the Supervisory Board, Prof Dirk Van Raemdonck.

This represents the first official visit of the Eurotransplant leadership to the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at a time when Bosnia and Herzegovina is intensifying its activities on the path towards full membership in the international network that annually coordinates more than 7,000 transplantations across Europe.

The meeting examined the key preconditions that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to fulfil for accession to Eurotransplant, including the strengthening of the legislative and institutional framework and enhancing the capacities of hospital teams.

“It is my great pleasure that we have hosted the leadership of Eurotransplant. Our goal is clear: to establish a functional, fair and efficient system of organ donation and transplantation that will enable the saving of as many lives as possible. For this, coordinated support from all levels of the competent authorities and active involvement of hospital managements are essential, in order to ensure a stable and sustainable development of the transplantation system in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” stated Minister Bošnjak.

The Chief Executive Officer of Eurotransplant, André Matera, thanked the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the exceptionally well-organised visit, emphasising that such a level of preparation enabled a clearer understanding of the current capacities and needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“This visit allows us to better understand the capacities and challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We stand ready to continue providing expert support in order to meet the necessary conditions for advancing transplantation medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina and for its future integration into the European network. We appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and look forward to continued cooperation,” Matera stated.

The Eurotransplant leadership expressed readiness for further cooperation and presented to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina a proposal, namely a Draft Agreement, which would enable linking transplantation centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina with transplantation centres within Eurotransplant. The Draft also envisages the possibility of limited exchange of organs, as well as inclusion of patients from Bosnia and Herzegovina on Eurotransplant waiting lists through partner transplantation centres, should the contracting parties, i.e. the transplantation centres, reach such an agreement. Upon official receipt, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will forward the draft agreements to the competent health authorities, in the hope that they will recognise and utilise this important opportunity for further advancement of the transplantation system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As part of the visit of the Eurotransplant delegation, a professional session was held in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attended by numerous representatives of health institutions from across the country. Discussions focused on the process of accession to Eurotransplant, the improvements required, and ways to accelerate integration.

 In its presentation, the Eurotransplant leadership introduced the operation and functional model of Eurotransplant to the competent domestic institutions, with particular emphasis on organ donation and transplantation procedures, as well as the exchange of experience with transplantation coordinators.

Opening the session, Minister Bošnjak highlighted the shared commitment to developing the transplantation system and promoting the culture of organ donation.

“Membership in Eurotransplant is not only a technical matter, but also a civilisational step whereby we affirm that health and solidarity know no borders. We are aware that this is a complex process requiring time, harmonisation and engagement from all levels of the competent authorities, health institutions and individuals,” stated Bošnjak.

The Medical Director of Eurotransplant, Dr Erwin de Buijzer, underlined that successful transplantation practice requires stable, well-equipped and continuously trained hospital teams: “Transplantation medicine rests on strong and reliable teams. It is important to invest in training, standardisation of procedures and clear protocols, as these directly affect patient safety and the quality of outcomes.”

The Chair Supervisory Board, Prof. Dirk Van Raemdonck, commended the activities of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, as well as the willingness of institutions to improve their processes in line with European practices. “We value the open approach of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its evident readiness to enhance standards, which represents an important step towards future integration into the Eurotransplant network.”

During the visit, the Eurotransplant delegation visited the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo (KCUS), one of the three institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina where transplantations are performed, as well as the Institute for Transfusion Medicine of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they became acquainted with the existing capacities and challenges. The process of accession to Eurotransplant was reinitiated at the beginning of last year, when the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the entity ministries of health, sent a letter of intent. Bosnia and Herzegovina also participated for the first time at the Annual Assembly of Eurotransplant, where it was officially presented as a potential member in October 2024.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to actively coordinate activities in the process of accession to Eurotransplant and provide full expert, organisational and institutional support to the competent health authorities.